CHEMICALS

Chemicals are a natural and important part of our environment. Under certain conditions, chemicals can be poisonous or have a harmful effect on your health. Some chemicals which are safe, and even helpful in small amounts, can be harmful in larger quantities or under certain conditions.

However, chemical accidents do occur, and the SWVPP wants you to be prepared.

How You May Be Exposed to a Chemical

You may be exposed to a chemical in three ways:

Breathing the chemical

Swallowing contaminated food, water, or medication

Touching the chemical, or coming into contact with clothing or things that have touched the chemical.

You may be exposed to chemicals even though you may not be able to see or smell anything unusual.

Chemical Locations and Uses

Some chemicals that are hazardous have been developed by military organizations for use in warfare. Examples are nerve agents such as sarin and VX, mustards such as sulfur mustards and nitrogen mustards, and choking agents such as phosgene. It might be possible for terrorists to get these chemical warfare agents and use them to harm people.

Hazardous chemicals are also used in industry (for example, chlorine, ammonia, and benzene). Others are found in nature (for example, poisonous plants). Some could be made from everyday items such as household cleaners. These types of hazardous chemicals also could be obtained and used to harm people, or they could be accidentally released.

The bottom line is that chemicals are found everywhere, even around the house--in our kitchens, medicine cabinets, basements, and garages. In fact, most chemical accidents occur in our own homes. Additional information concerning household chemicals can be found at the Household Products Database.

Children and Poisoning

The most common home chemical emergencies involve small children eating medicines. Experts in the field of chemical manufacturing suggest taking hazardous materials out of sight could eliminate up to 75 percent of all poisoning of small children.

Keep all medicines, cosmetics, cleaning products, and other household chemicals out of sight and out of reach of children. If your child should eat or drink a non-food substance, find any containers immediately and take them to the phone and call the Poison Control Center (1-800-222-1222) or 9-1-1. More information is available at the WV Poison Center.